Publisher's Summary

The Revolutionary Phenotype is a science book that brings us four billion years into the past, when the first living molecules showed up on Planet Earth. Unlike what was previously thought, we learn that DNA-based life did not emerge from random events in a primordial soup. Indeed, the first molecules of DNA were fabricated by a previous life form. By describing the fascinating events referred to as phenotypic revolutions, this book provides a dire warning to humanity: if humans continue to play with their own genes, we will be the next life form to fall to our own creation.

Note that this is an audiobook read directly by the author, who has a French accent.

REVOLUTIONARY

The last chapter in the history of biological thought. Buy it, your life depends on it!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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5 out of 5 stars

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Andre

2019-01-22

Thought-provoking book, great narration

A must-read for anyone who enjoyed Dawkin's Selfish Gene. I found the musical transitions between chapters a bit too long, but otherwise great narration by the author.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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5 out of 5 stars

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5 out of 5 stars

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5 out of 5 stars

john davidson

2019-03-06

Simply amazing

This book was amazing in every way Every human on earth should read itAnd it should be required reading and part of education in high school I listened to the audio book and was spellbound.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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eric

2019-05-16

One word...SHOCKING!

J.-F. delivers a disturbing theory regarding our genetic replacement and in great detail. Don't give up hope though, he also advises us on how we can fight this menace and avoid our genetic extinction. Thank you J.-F.!

Regarding this as an audio book I found it extremely well done in all aspects.

Subject: Intelligent, Dark, yet Hopeful.

Performance: If you are concerned about a Québécois (French Canadian) narrating his own work, set that aside. His spoken English is excellent and his accent actually brings character to this most interesting subject. GREAT LISTEN.

Author: J.-F. Gariépy obviously dedicated an enormous amount of time and research into his subject matter and put it all in a finished work everyone appreciate. This isn't just big brained science material put forth in a way for scholars. I enjoyed it almost as if I was reading (listening) to a science fiction script. This is not fiction, but this doesn't have to be our future either.

BUY THIS BOOK

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4 out of 5 stars

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Philip Cervenjak

2019-02-16

Great book, although skeptical of the "nd of DNA"

JF Gariepy has presented a very elegant theory as to how genetic layers emerge. In addition, he uses his new theoretical toolbox to satisfactorily explain the relationship between memes and genes, and explain how sexually reproductive life first emerged.

However, chapter 12 "The nd of DNA" makes some specific predictions which I think are difficult to justify. He argues that since the self-replicating protein and RNA life forms annihilated themselves by delegating gene printing to another life form (protein delegates to RNA and RNA delegates to DNA), we can extrapolate that humans will be annihilated if they undergo the same process. That is, humans will wipe themselves out by allowing AI to print our genes for us.

I am not fully convinced of this prediction for two reasons:
1. Humans could conceivably restrict the gene-editing AI to ensure that humans don't lose the will to reproduce.
2. The AI is not under any obvious evolutionary pressure to print our genes so that we lose the will to reproduce.

Nevertheless, I still agree with JF's overall contention that it is a dangerous idea to delegate gene-editing to AI, because it may have some other unforeseen consequences.

On the whole, this book contains some brilliant new ideas and JF should be proud of his efforts.

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5 out of 5 stars

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Christopher Ellis

2019-01-27

Great Book!

great book. complicated subject. I had to relisten a few times, and think, but it was worth it.